Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba used his thanksgiving ceremony at Kitovu Sports Arena in Masaka City to publicly set the record straight on his ambitions – presidential, nationally and within his main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).
Up to 13 MPs from across the political divide attended Mpuuga’s thanksgiving event. At least five were from the NUP, four from President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM).
MPS IN ATTENDANCE
The NUP MPs in attendance included Medard Lubega Ssegona of Busiro East, Michael Kakembo of Entebbe Municipality, Mityana District Woman MP Joyce Bagala, Masaka City Woman MP Juliet Kakande and Abed Bwanika of Kimanya-Kabonera.
From Museveni’s NRM came Rubanda District Woman MP Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi, Bukholi Central MP Solomon Silwany, Zombo District Woman MP Esther Afoyochan, State Minister for Microfinance Haruna Kasolo and Soroti East MP Herbert Edmund Ariko.
Also in attendance was Mityana South MP Richard Lumu of the Democratic Party, Jeema President and Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa as well as Bumali Mpindi, who represents Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Parliament.
DEFENDING MPUUGA
Ssegona reiterated his resolve to stand with Mpuuga explaining that he has been his friend for long and that he could not betray him based on flimsy accusations. He defended the cash award given to Mpuuga as legal and one for which he should not be punished.
Confessing that he also envied the award because he also wants to be appreciated, Ssegona said he saw nothing wrong with someone who does his work well being appreciated by his or her bosses who have the mandate to appreciate them.
Even the audience seemed to agree with Ssegona as the friends of Mpuuga chanted ‘Bamulangaki Mpuuga?’ literally asking ‘what do you accuse him of?’ Mpuuga’s troubles with his National Unity Platform party were sparked by the revelations of his partaking in the controversial cash awards totalling to Shs1.7bn for members of the Parliamentary Commission, a top governing body of the House.
But his supporters have always maintained that he is being harassed by those at the NUP headquarters in Kavule Kampala because of his great leadership skills and potential to lead the party which they believe NUP leaders like Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine could be afraid of.
Mpuuga himself has previously claimed that party president Bobi Wine, who has fired him from both his position as commissioner and NUP deputy president for Buganda, is under siege.
At the thanksgiving ceremony, Mpuuga’s co-accused Akampurira, Silwany and Afoyochan preached unity, putting on brave faces and dismissing the illegality of their controversial cash awards that were first exposed in an online protest, the Uganda Parliament Exhibition, which put corruption, abuse of office and diversion of funds under the spotlight.
Akampurira even questioned what was wrong with Ugandans who want to pull down any politician who have exhibited exceptional leadership abilities the way Mpuuga has shown instead of supporting him.
Efforts for a censure motion to remove Mpuuga, Akampurira, Silwany and Afoyochan are yet to bear fruit as some MPs have declined to sign the motion spearheaded by Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo. There have been reports of ‘intimidation’ from above, reportedly making legislators stay away from Parliament or refuse to sign the motion. (See Details Here and There).
MPUUGA: I AM CAPABLE
Mpuuga used the event to wax lyrical about his capabilities, making it clear he was fit and suitable for the country’s top job, the presidency, currently held by Gen Museveni for nearly four decades since he took power after a five-year war that killed hundreds of thousands.
A seasoned MP who is respected for his largely non-militant approach – which has put him at loggerheads with his NUP party which prefers Dr Kizza Besigye-like defiance – Mpuuga also said he also had the capabilities to lead his NUP party which has tried to isolate him since the cash award came to light.
“They are asking themselves ‘what does Mpuuga want, does he want to be the NUP president? Does he want to be Uganda’s president? Does he want to form a new political party?’ Now let me respond to you – and write this down – I can do all these things. Do you think I am not capable of doing these things?” Mpuuga told the audience.
Mpuuga was given a spear, a symbol of defence and authority, as well as a plaque with the words ‘MY LEADER’ which had a map of Uganda carved in its middle. The Nyendo-Mukungwe MP gladly received the spear and plaque.
From firing him from his role as Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) and replacing him with first time MP Joel Ssenyonyi, Mpuuga has fairly constrained himself.
While some expected him to leave NUP and form his own political party or even join an existing one ahead of the 2026 general elections, Mpuuga has also insisted he will remain in Bobi Wine’s NUP and try to reform it from within. (See Details Here).
